Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kazan: Australia will face Germany, Chile and the yet to be determined champions of Africa in Group B at the 2017 edition of the FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia following the competition’s official draw on Saturday.
The Socceroos, who won the AFC Asian Cup on home soil in 2015 to earn their place at the global get-together, are set to begin their campaign against reigning world champions Germany in Sochi on June 19, before facing the winners of the next year’s Africa Cup of Nations three days later at Saint Petersburg’s Krestovsky Stadium.
Ange Postecoglou’s charges are then set to complete their group fixtures again Chile in Moscow on June 25.
Meanwhile, host nation Russia, UEFA EURO 2016 winners Portugal, 2015 CONCACAF Cup champions Mexico and New Zealand, who claimed the 2016 OFC Nations Cup crown, will all be vying for glory in an equallly competetive Group A.
“We are excited now we know who we have to play and we will start preparing immediately,” Postecoglou said.
“We’ve earned the right to play in the Confederations Cup by winning the AFC Asian Cup and as champions of Asia we now look forward to testing ourselves against some of the best nations in world football.
“Germany and Chile will be tough opponents and we know the winner of the African Cup of Nations will be a quality side but we will go into the games well prepared and ready to show everyone what we are capable of.
“Australian football is growing rapidly and our growth as a football nation will only continue if we have the opportunity to play to test ourselves against the very best and we certainly have that with the Confederations Cup.”
The top two sides in both groups will progress to the semi-finals which are scheduled to be held on June 28 and 29 ahead of the July 2 third place play-off and final.
Photo: FIFA / Getty Images